JAPAN eSPORTS AWARDS 2025", an annual festival to honor achievements in the field of e-sports in Japan, was held at Pacifico Yokohama North on Monday, January 12, 2026! Celebrities who have been active in the world of e-sports walked the red carpet.
Gamers walking on the red carpet dressed to the nines.
MC was Taiga Kishi (@StanSmith_jp ) and Yuka Kuramochi (@yukakuramoti ).
Many fans gathered on site to catch a glimpse of e-sports players and streamers.
Doraemon: I'm so nervous that I'm at a loss for words, but I'm glad to be here on this stage. I'm not used to dressing like this, but I'm going to enjoy it.
mkmldy: I'm nervous because there are so many people here (laughs). I hope to win all the tournaments I enter this year!
Tasuku: This year I was able to interact with many people in the e-sports world, and I realized once again how many people have made this possible. I believe that I am here on this stage thanks to the people who support me every day. I will continue to do my best, so please support me!
Yuki: I am much more nervous now than when I was playing the game! I was able to promote Puyopuyo, and I won the National eSports Championship 2025 SHIGA "Puyopuyo eSports" Open Participation Division, so I think it was a really good year for me. I will do my best to win the tournament again this year to show that I am very strong.
I am more nervous than at the World Championships (laughs). 2025 was a year of firsts and growth. In 2026, I would like to transmit information in some form.
Each player signed his own panel.
Sota Muto: e-motorsports is still in its infancy, but with the start of a professional league called UNIZONE, I think it will become even more exciting in the future. I have been given many opportunities to play an active role in 2025, and I believe that I have been able to repay the favor with results. I have been playing the game "iRacing" for 11 years, and now I am competing on the world stage as the Japanese champion. I will continue to do my best so that I can stay the champion for as long as possible and not lose to my juniors!
Tess: As you know, Kishi-san, the audience for soccer games is 99% male, so I am nervous because I don't understand the significance of this situation (with many female fans). I'm glad to see the results in 2025, as it was a year in which I spent more time with eFootball than ever before. I hope to continue to achieve results and repay everyone who has supported me little by little.
Obuyan: I have never received an award just for playing a game in my life, so this is truly one of the most memorable days of my life. In 2025, I was able to win the "Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2025," but it was a very difficult time. However, I was able to continue on with the thought that what I had done was not wrong! I have continued to do what I have been doing. In 2026, I will first aim to win the Asian championship for the second year in a row, and then the world championship. I will do my best to win the world championship.
Vitoppo: I never imagined that I would be walking on the red carpet, and I am both nervous and happy. I was 2nd in the world at the Pokémon World Championship 2025 in the Pokémon Unite category, but I am not satisfied at all, so I hope to do it again this year! This year is the year! I will do my best to become a star player who can lead the team!
Hameko. Mr. Hameko: I was so happy to see so many people gathered at the event and to know that so many people were watching us. We had so many events in 2025, and before I knew it, it was over. The casters are the ones who highlight the players of the events in front of us, so we have to play the game and convey the goodness of the game to them. I believe there is no other way. I will continue to do what I always do!
Jaeger: I've been in the industry for a while now, and I've finally gotten to the point where I don't get nervous when I'm doing live performances, but this red carpet made me nervous (laughs). I am very happy to have received this award. However, I will not be satisfied with this award and will continue my activities in the future!
Kazutaka Tomoda: The year 2025 was really a turbulent one. I am very happy that so many people have played "Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond" and that I have received this award. First of all, I was able to provide live commentary at the same site as Taiga Kishi, whom I respect and admire. It was also with Mr. Kishi that I had my first experience as an e-sports caster, so this award has made me realize that I want to work even harder this year. As an e-sports caster, I will continue to work to bring out the best in both players and customers, and to communicate with them through the power of words!
Nico: Well, I am more nervous than the World Convention (laughs). In 2025, I participated in the World Championships twice for the first time, and I think it was a year in which I was able to show my ability. In 2026, my goal is to win, and I will continue to share the appeal of Overwatch with the world.
Cute cat.
Dhompisha: I walked this red carpet last year, and I never thought I would have the chance to do it twice, so I'm very happy to be here! I just want to say...one? (*The other winners of the Streamer Award were k4sen, SHAKA, and Bodka, but they were not present on the day. I would like to challenge myself to do things I have never done before.
Alf: It feels good to walk the red carpet! I was worried about 2025 because it was my first year back, but I think I was able to do my best despite some frustrations. I think I was able to evolve along with my new friends. I will do my best to win the World Championships in 2026.
Kznk: Thank you very much for letting me walk in such a place. I don't often have the chance to put on a suit and tie, so I feel very embarrassed (laughs). In 2026, I want to become stronger and be a muso (laughs).
Kawano: I received this award last year, and I think it became a prestigious award because we had even more customers. I forgot my suit, so I asked my wife to go buy one in a hurry. I had the same pants as last year, but they didn't fit... In 2025, I was not able to do well in the individual competition, so in 2026, I would like to do my best to be active in both the team and individual competition.
GO1: As someone who usually plays only games, I am very honored to be able to walk on such a glorious stage. Since I have moved to a new city, I have been able to take on the challenge of 2025 with a new mindset. I had good results in the individual competitions, but I was not good enough in the team competitions, so I will do my best in 2026!
Laggia: In "FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves", I didn't have good results in the beginning, but I'm really happy to have won the "SNK World Championship 2025" at the very end! I am very happy to have won the "SNK World Championship 2025" at the end of the year. In 2026, I want to do even better, including competing in the Esports World Cup, which I couldn't do last year.
LeShar: It was an honor and a memorable experience to walk the red carpet with the athletes I respect. I think 2025 was a year of results, and I will do my best for even better results in 2026.
Mr. Kishi and Mr. Kuramochi also provide fan service
After the distribution, Mr. Kishi and Mr. Kuramochi also offered fan service. It was a rare opportunity to see e-sports players in their usual attire at a closer distance than at any other event!
Sorry, this article is only available in Japanese and 繁體中文. at the moment.
